The British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) is delighted to announce 11 new drivers who have joined the coveted BRDC Rising Star Scheme for the 2025 season. This follows the successful completion of their recent interviews in the BRDC Clubhouse. They join 14 drivers who were retained from the 2024 line-up and represent a wide range of motor racing categories.
Since the BRDC Rising Star Scheme’s inception in the late year 2000, there has been an objective to identify British and Commonwealth drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 who look likely to continue on a career projection which will see them one day qualify for Full Membership of the BRDC. By giving them a sample of the benefits offered to BRDC Full Members, it is hoped that BRDC Rising Stars will aspire to become Full Members and use the Club’s facilities and network of influential figures in the sport to maximise their career opportunities. Of the current Formula 1 grid, eight drivers received an invitation to become BRDC Rising Stars in the earlier part of their careers. Rising Star alumni also feature in the upper tiers of many other motor racing categories worldwide.
First to join the BRDC Rising Star line-up from the world of single seater racing is John Bennett who impressively took the GB3 Championship season down to the wire last year and finished runner-up. He progresses to the FIA Formula 2 Championship this season following a handful of impressive F2 outings at the end of the 2024 season. Alex Ninovic and Reza Seewooruthun, who finished the 2024 F4 British Championship season in second and third place respectively, become BRDC Rising Stars ahead of their maiden campaigns in the GB3 Championship partnered by the BRDC. Having both experienced race wins at F4 level, they will be ones to watch in what looks like an ultra-competitive GB3 season. Fresh from his 2024 CIK FIA OK Karting World Championship and Ginetta Junior Championship titles, Ethan Jeff-Hall will be flying the Rising Star flag in the F4 British Championship alongside championship returnee Ella Lloyd who will look to build on last year’s tally of four British F4 podiums when there is no conflict with her F1 Academy commitments.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Elsewhere from the world of single seaters, the Club is delighted to welcome the most recent winner of the British Women Racing Drivers Club (BWRDC) Junior GoldStar, Daniella Sutton. As the second driver to benefit from the BRDC’s partnership through which each year’s winner of the BWRDC Junior GoldStar is invited to become a BRDC Rising Star, Daniella will represent the Club in the BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship having built a strong foundation in her scholarship-winning year in 2024. Hugo Cook, who has been a head turner in GT racing in recent years will be a strong contender for the British GT Championship alongside Full Member and reigning GT3 Champion Robert Collard. Rivals in last year’s GT4 class of the British GT Championship, Zac Meakin and Mikey Porter who achieved GT4 overall and GT4 Silver Cup title honours respectively, will become teammates in the International GT Open in 2025 but also do battle again in the McLaren Trophy. Freddie Tomlinson also joins the Rising Star Scheme as he prepares for a season in the Le Mans Cup following on from a variety of strong results in 2024 including an overall victory in the Asian Le Mans Series. Last but not least, Daryl DeLeon completes the line-up of new Rising Star inductees on the build up to what is tipped to be a breakthrough year for him in the British Touring Car Championship as he returns to the popular series.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The full line-up of BRDC Rising Stars for 2025 is as follows:
John Bennett – FIA Formula 2 Championship
Charles Clark – GT World Challenge Europe
Hugo Cook – British GT Championship
Daryl DeLeon – British Touring Car Championship
Tom Edgar – Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie
Harry Foster – Programme announcement coming soon
James Higgins – GB3 Championship partnered by the BRDC
Ethan Jeff-Hall – F4 British Championship
Ella Lloyd – F1 Academy & F4 British Championship
William Macintyre – GB3 Championship partnered by the BRDC
Zac Meakin – International GT Open & McLaren Trophy
Aston Millar – Programme announcement coming soon
Alex Ninovic – GB3 Championship partnered by the BRDC
Alisha Palmowski – F1 Academy
Ronan Pearson – British Touring Car Championship
Mikey Porter – International GT Open & McLaren Trophy
Matthew Rees – Programme announcement coming soon
Josh Rowledge – Porsche Carrera Cup Asia
Reza Seewooruthun – GB3 Championship partnered by the BRDC
Daniella Sutton – BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship
Freddie Tomlinson – Le Mans Cup
Bailey Voisin – Le Mans Cup
James Wallis – Porsche Carrera Cup GB
Joe Warhurst – Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland
James Wharton – FIA Formula 3 Championship
The BRDC would like to wish all of its Rising Stars the very best of luck for the season ahead. To keep up to date with their racing results, please follow the BRDC’s social media channels on Instagram and X.